Mr Cranston is not accused of being a co-conspirator to the alleged fraud but is facing charges of having sought to obtain information in his capacity as an ATO officer with the intention of "dishonestly obtaining a benefit for another person, Adam Cranston".

During a brief mention at the Downing Centre on Friday, Mr Cranston's trial was set down for January 21, 2019, and is expected to run for two or three weeks.

The money was allegedly spent on luxury homes, cars, motorbikes and aircraft.

As the scheme was unravelling, police allege Michael Cranston tried unsuccessfully to access information about an ATO investigation into Adam's company, private equity firm Synep, which purchased Plutus in mid-2016.

Michael Cranston quit the ATO last June. But his association with the alleged fraud has rocked the organisation and Commissioner Chris Jordan last month announced the appointment of Simon Longstaff as the agency's new integrity adviser.

Dr Longstaff is currently the executive director of The Ethics Centre, a non-profit organisation that offers education, counselling and consulting services for people struggling with ethical questions. He will work with the ATO for a maximum of 35 days a year.